Harry Porter Jr.

Harry Kimball Porter, Jr. (Butch)

January 21, 1939 ~ April 5, 2017

Butch completed his earthly journey and now is fly fishing the rivers of the great beyond. Butch was a great man of many talents: a painter, sculptor, poet and his final masterpiece was the book he wrote of his life, "The Journey." Butch's many stories and tales captivated many family and friends and will always be remembered and cherished.  Butch liked to prospect for gold, fly fish, and collect arrow heads and rocks. He also was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and great-grandfather. Butch was a hero to many and had a wealth of knowledge.

Butch was born to Harry and Ella Porter in Kemmerer, Wyoming, and grew up in Superior, Wyoming. He graduated from University of Wyoming as a mechanical engineer with an aerospace minor.  Butch worked for Boeing in Seattle. His final career was at Hill AFB, Utah, retiring in 2004.  Butch was instrumental in designing rocket guiding systems, munitions and was on the Minuteman Missile team. Later in his career, he worked for Defense Information Systems Agency as a computer analyst.

He was married to Francis Sempsis and from that marriage four children were born. They were divorced, and he married Perline Collins Holbert in 1985, and helped raise her five children.

Butch is survived by his wife, Perline; two sons: Kevin Porter and Dean (Chris) Porter; stepchildren: Don (Charissa) Mattson, Brandon Mattson, Forrest Hicks, April Hicks, Kari (Filemon) Martinez; 21 grandchildren; and one great-grandson. He is also survived by his brother, Dave (Patti); sisters: Sue (Frank) Zuech, Lu (Skip) Robison and Lindy (Jim) Phillips.

Butch was preceded in death by his father; mother; two daughters: Deborah Porter, Christy Porter; one brother, Pat Porter; one sister, Becky Porter; and one grandson, Mathew Porter.

Memorial services will be Wednesday, April 12, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 North Fairfield Road, Layton, Utah. Friends may visit family Wednesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at the mortuary.  His ashes will be spread at a later date.